Earlier this month, the Bears dealt Justin Fields to the Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025.
Fields’ recovery was purposefully hampered by general manager Ryan Poles so the fourth-year quarterback could play as soon as possible at his desired location. A fresh report from ESPN claims that the Bears were offered a higher price than what they ultimately agreed upon with the Steelers.
“Bears general manager Ryan Poles ultimately followed through on a combine pledge to ‘do right by Justin,’ dealing Fields to Pittsburgh over at least one better offer from a team with an established quarterback starter, a Bears team source said,” Brooke Pryor of ESPN wrote on Friday.
“The Steelers were one of four teams on Fields’ radar prior to the start of free agency, along with the Vikings, Raiders and Falcons, a source familiar with Fields’ thinking said,” Pryor stated.
This summer, the Vikings’ starting quarterback position became available after they lost Kirk Cousins to free agency. Considering the Bears would therefore have to play Fields twice a year, it makes logical that he wasn’t traded there.
Luke Getsy, the offensive coordinator for the Raiders, was once Fields’ offensive coordinator. Despite signing Gardner Minshew this summer, they are still looking for a new signal caller. Some believed that Getsy’s arrival would mean the Raiders were eliminated from consideration because the team didn’t do well together in the previous season.
Being a native of Georgia, the Falcons were the team most interested in signing Fields this summer. Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago was informed by league sources that Fields was discussed with the Bears by the Falcons during the NFL Combine.
It was a considerate move on the part of Poles, who will most likely select Caleb Williams of USC as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to replace Fields. To optimize Fields’ trade worth, Poles may have held out until training camp and beyond the draft. However, he chose the high path, which put the fourth-year quarterback in the best possible situation.
However, Fields’ narrative does not finish here. This season, he will probably be Wilson’s backup, but his contract is just for one year. Fields’ fifth-year option must be chosen by the Steelers by May 2; if they so choose, they can re-sign him.
Some believe Fields will surpass Wilson immediately and take the starting position. In any case, Fields serves as a safety net for the Steelers in case they grow dissatisfied with Wilson as their starting signal caller.
Some believe Fields will surpass Wilson immediately and take the starting position. In any case, Fields serves as a safety net for the Steelers in case they grow dissatisfied with Wilson as their starting signal caller.
Fields may not take over immediately, but the Steelers are aware of his potential.
“You can be confident that Justin will have the chance to compete when the time comes,” Tomlin stated during the Orlando owner’s meetings. “And we’ll allow those guys to sort themselves out.”
